Au Pair in South Korea

As an Au Pair in South Korea, you will have a fantastic opportunity to experience the country's dynamic modern culture while living with a Host Family and engaging in everyday Korean life.

In this article, you will find information about:

Contract & insurance
Visa Information
Au Pair in South Korea: salary, working hours, holidays, and more
How to become an Au Pair in South Korea
How to become a Host Family in South Korea
Guided tour

South Korea has rapidly become one of the top travel destinations in Asia, attracting visitors with a combination of unique traditions, modern advances, and stunning natural landscapes. Au Pairs in South Korea will experience famous Korean hospitality and a high standard of living while staying with a welcoming Korean Host family.

Are you thinking about becoming an Au Pair in South Korea? You will get a chance to learn the melodic Korean language, enjoy delicious kimchi, and explore the global phenomenon of K-pop. This article will guide you through everything you need to know about the Au Pair program in this vibrant country.

While South Korea does not have an official Au Pair program, it is still possible to find a Host Family and organize your stay if you are a citizen of a country that has a Working Holiday Visa agreement with Korea.

Contract and Insurance

As there is no official Au Pair program in South Korea, there is no specific contract template for this country. We recommend using our contract version, which is possible to download and personalize for your needs. It is vital to include the following information in your Au Pair contract:

The Au Pair contract

Insurance
Salary
Working hours (max. 25 per week)
Length of the stay (max. 12 months)
Free time
Holidays
Accommodation
Language course
Responsibilities of the Au Pair
The Au Pair’s travel expenses

Termination of the contract

If the Host Family and the Au Pair cannot resolve their differences or face an uncontrollable situation that disrupts the arrangement, they have the option to end the contract. It is crucial that both parties respect the two-week notice period, allowing the Au Pair time to find a new Host Family and vice versa.

Medical Insurance

When preparing for your Au Pair stay in South Korea, it is important to take care of your insurance coverage. Normally, Au Pairs need health insurance that covers medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. You can use the services of AuPair.com’s partner companies such as Dr. Walter or Care Concept, which provide insurance to participants from all over the world.

Note! From July 16th 2019, any foreigner who has stayed in the Republic of Korea for more than six months MUST be subscribed to the National Health Insurance. Please, visit this page to find detailed information.

Visa Information

South Korea has a Working Holiday Agreement with a number of countries, allowing young people to apply for a Korean Working Holiday Visa. This visa enables them to live and work in South Korea for up to one year, giving them the opportunity to travel and explore the country.

These are the general eligibility requirements for a Working Holiday Visa to South Korea:

You are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, USA.
You are between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of application (this could vary by nationality)
You do not intend to bring any dependents with you
You need to be in good health
You need to have a clear criminal record and be able to prove it with a document
You should be in your country when you apply for this visa and when your visa is granted
You hold a valid passport valid for at least a year
You have not previously taken part in Korea’s Working Holiday program
You are able to prove your financial ability to pay for the initial stages of your stay in Korea (minimum of KRW 3,000,000)
You have a valid return flight ticket or evidence of financial ability to afford a return flight
You have appropriate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Korea

Please, visit the official page of the Overseas Korean Agency to check specific requirements for your country. Note that there can be significant changes in the program requirements and conditions depending on the applicant's citizenship.

The Au Pair visa

You need to apply for a Korean Working Holiday Visa at the Embassy or Consulate of South Korea (or designated visa centre) in your country. You need to take the following steps to get your visa successfully:

Contact the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country or visit their website to learn the specific requirements of the Working Holiday program in your country. Afterwards, you need to get in touch with the Embassy and ask them for the list of supporting documents you need to prepare for your visa application.
Collect the required documents.
Submit your Working Holiday Visa application either directly at the Embassy/Consulate or at the visa application centre.
Collect the visa. If the application is approved, you will be able to start your journey to South Korea.

Note! You must undergo an alien registration after arriving in Korea. Registration must be done within 90 days of entry at the nearest Immigration Office of your Host Family’s house. After you submit all relevant documents with your application, an immigration officer will take your fingerprints and give you a receipt with the date when you can return and pick up your alien registration card. It usually takes 3 weeks to process. An alien registration card is required for many activities, such as opening a bank account, purchasing a mobile phone and working legally. If you move to a different location, for example, you change your Host Family, you will need to report this to the office within five days.

Au Pair pocket money in South Korea

The Host Family should provide not only a private room and meals but also an appropriate amount of pocket money for the Au Pair.

As there are no official guidelines for the Au Pair program in Korea, we suggest checking pocket money rates in countries with similar living costs to South Korea. This will help to determine a reasonable weekly payment that will make the Au Pair's stay in Korea enjoyable.

Working Hours

According to the Working Holiday agreement, those who come to South Korea with this type of visa can work no more than 25 hours per week.

Au Pairs should also receive some paid time off during their stay and at least one day off each week. Even though there are no specific rules about paid holidays for Au Pairs in South Korea, we suggest giving Au Pairs at least 20 paid vacation days a year. The main goal of the program is cultural exchange, so Au Pairs should have enough time to explore the country.

Public holidays in the Host country are also considered days off for Au Pairs, so they don't have to work on those days. Mind that all details about working hours and paid time off should be included in the Au Pair contract.

Language course

A crucial aspect of the Au Pair program is improving your language skills. In South Korea, there is no mandatory requirement for language courses, because the program is not regulated by the authorities. Still, having a grasp of basic communication in Korean will definitely improve your day-to-day interactions with your Host Family and Kids, as well as locals. There are a lot of educational materials and sources available to help you with learning Korean. You can take an online or off-line class, go to a private language school, or choose personalized tutoring sessions. While being an Au Pair is inherently enjoyable, the experience becomes even better if you decide to learn the local language.

Note! If you come to South Korea on a working holiday visa, you are allowed to register for Korean language courses only at private educational institutions such as hakwon or Korean language schools, but not for regular university degree courses, for which you need a study visa. Allowed language study periods may vary depending on what is provided in the agreement between Korea and your country.

Au Pair's Room

Every Au Pair needs to be provided with a separate, comfortable, lockable room that allows them to relax and enjoy their privacy. The room should be furnished with essential items and have good lighting. It should also be clean, well-maintained, and have access to basic amenities such as Wi-Fi. When a Host Family prepares a welcoming and cozy room for their Au Pair, it helps her/him feel at home and valued.

How to become an Au Pair in South Korea: requirements

These are the requirements to become an Au Pair in South Korea:

You are unmarried and without children.
You are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, USA.
You are at least 18 and no more than 30 years old both inclusive at the time of application for the visa*.
You are willing to live with a Host Family in South Korea for one year maximum.
You don't have the same nationality as your Host Family and are not related to them.
You have a valid passport of your country/region and a return travel ticket or sufficient funds to purchase it.
You have reasonable funds to support yourself during the initial period of your stay in Korea.
You are in good health.
You have a clear criminal record and can prove it with a document
You have never been issued a Korean Working Holiday Visa in the past.

*Please, check the details about the age limit for each eligible country here.

How to become a Host Family in South Korea: requirements

Host an Au Pair

Even though South Korea does not have an official Au Pair program, you can still host an Au Pair and share your culture and daily life. Pay attention that only people from certain countries can legally work as Au Pairs in South Korea. You can check the list of eligible countries here. As a Host Family, it's important to be prepared to provide a hospitable home, support, and opportunities for cultural exchange for your Au Pair. This is an opportunity to introduce your guest to the Korean lifestyle, cuisine, and language, while also learning about their culture.

It is important that Host Families treat Au Pairs as temporary family members, and not as employees. These are the requirements that Host Families must meet to host an Au Pair:

Having at least one kid under the age of 18 years.
Being able to offer meals and an agreed amount of pocket money.
Being able to provide the participant with a separate room with a lock (in their own home or nearby)
Respect the working hours of the Au Pair
You don't have the same nationality as your Au Pair and are not related to them.

Guided tour

South Korea, which is also known as the Land of the Morning Calm, offers a unique mixture of breathtaking nature, bustling city life and unique Asian culture. We gathered a list of the most exciting places to go and things to do as an Au pair in this beautiful country. Read more.